4 June - 1 Corinthians 14

We’re back in 1 Corinthians, chapter 14. There’s a lot to clear up in this chapter. So let’s get started.

1. The main topic this chapter addresses is very controversial in many churches. The topic is speaking in “tongues.” “Tongues” are when God made someone speak in a language that was different from what they normally spoke. It was first seen in Acts chapter 2. However, in Acts 2 the speakers spoke and everyone heard them in their own language. There were many different nationalities present and each person understood them in their own language. This was different from what Paul was talking about in 1 Corinthians 14. Here people were speaking an unknown language but other people couldn’t understand them. 
2. Paul’s response was that this type of speaking in “tongues” should only be done if someone was there who could interpret what was being said. More importantly, Paul said tongues was only given to build up other people. But if they didn’t understand what was being said what good would it be to them? Paul says that it shouldn’t be done around people who don’t understand. 
3. Paul even said he would rather speak 5 intelligible words than 10,000 unintelligible words. Then Paul emphatically said the gift of prophecy was of higher benefit to the church than the gift of tongues. “Prophecy” was when someone was inspired by God to speak on his behalf. The reason this would be better for the church is because they would be hearing from God rather than someone just saying unintelligible words.
4. Then Paul tried to help put some kind of order to their gatherings. Obviously they were all eager for different spiritual gifts but they thought some gifts (tongues for example) were better gifts from God than others. However, Paul says that’s not the case at all. 
5. Paul also said that women shouldn’t speak in church but he referenced the “Law” which plainly shows us it was a cultural application for them and not for us today.

The most important thing to take away from this rather confusing chapter is that what we do should be done to help people grow closer to God. The second important take away is found in verse 20; “In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.” 

Are you focused on helping other people grow closer to God? Are you as innocent as a newborn baby in regards to things that displease God? Do you act like an adult in the way you think? Ask God to help you think like a grown up and still be as innocent as a newborn. What is one thing you could do this week to help someone else grow closer to God? What is the one step you need to take this week to grow closer to God?